Air cooled bearing housing



Nov. 16, 1965 M. D. OAKES AIR COOLED BEARING HOUSING Original Filed Dec.8. 1960 MYRON D. OAKES INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3 Claims.(Cl. 103411 This is a continuation of my application No. 74,534, filedDecember 8, 1960, having the same title, now abandoned.

This invention relates, in general, to pumps, and, in particular, to animproved means for cooling the bearing housing of pumps.

Heretofore, it has been the practice in pumps adapted to operate atrelatively high speeds to provide a water jacket through which water iscirculated to maintain the bearings at a predetermined temperature toprevent the breakdown of lubrication and the like. This water jacketsurrounding the bearing housing is normally connected to a series ofpipes so that water is circulated through the jacket as a continuousuninterrupted flow.

This means of cooling the pump bearings is found to be deficient forseveral reasons. It is common, for example, in certain industries tohave 500 such water cooled pumps operating to perform certain operatingprocedures each of which utilize approximately 5 gallons per minute ofwater. Obviously, such a large use of water is quite expensiveespecially when considered in connection with and added to such othercostly features as the cost of such jackets and piping as well as themaintenance thereof.

Obviously, the cost of cleaning of jackets and piping of contamination,mineral deposits, algae and the like runs quite expensive and the onlyother alternative is to purify the water usedalso quite expensive. Too,in such areas as Canada, the problem of frost and freezing exists or inother areas such as the Gulf Coast area where the problem of humidityexists, problems of freezing and sweating of the inside of the bearinghousing must be overcome.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to solve theabove difficulties attendant with Water cooling of pump bearinghousings.

Briefly, the principal object is accomplished by the provision of a pumpwith a bearing housing so constructed and arranged to cooperate with acover which encloses an air impeller. Upon rotation of the shaftjournaled in bearings of the bearing housing, the air impeller directsair out along the inner side of the cover and the outside of the bearinghousing thereby maintaining the bearing housing air cooled. The bearinghousing is also provided with fins or ribs spaced circumferentiallyaround the housing and coaxial with the shaft so that the air is moreevenly distributed and more surface is provided to be cooled by the air.

Accordingly, a specific object of this invention is the provision of anair cooled bearing housing through which air is circulated in responseto rotation of the shaft whereby air is circulated to cool the bearinghousing.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partly in section illustrating toadvantage the means for cooling the bearing housing constructed inaccordance with the teachings of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is an end view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows, and illustrating to advantage the ribs or finsfor the circulation of the air about the bearing housing.

3,217,656 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 Turning now more specifically to thedrawings, it can be seen that there is therein illustrated a centrifugalpump illustrated in its entirety as P having a two-part housing 11formed with an inlet 12 and an outlet (not shown) and in which isdisposed a centrifugal impeller 13 mounted on a rotatable shaft 14. Adriver D'of any convenient type is normally connected to rotate shaft14. As is conven tional, rotation of the centrifugal impeller 13 willcause fluid entering the inlet 12 to be pumped out the impeller into thevolute 15 and thence out the outlet. The twopart housing 11 is alsoprovided with a seal housing 16 in which is disposed sealing means 17 ofany suitable type to prevent the leakage of fluid from the impelleralong the shaft 14.

As illustrated, the shaft 14 is journaled in radial and thrust bearings,such as the double roller thrust bearings 13 and the single rollerradial bearings 20, both of which are disposed in a suitable bearinghousing 21.

As heretofore mentioned, an important feature of this invention is theprovision of means for cooling the bearing housing 21 in which islocated the thrust and radial bearings 18 and 20. This feature will nowbe explained.

The bearing housing 21 is provided with a plurality of axially disposedradially outwardly extending ribs or fins 22 disposed circumferentiallyabout the bearing housing. As shown, the outer periphery of the bearinghousing is tapered with its smallest diameter the greatest distance fromthe pump housing 11 and the ribs 22 are higher at a point most remotefrom the impeller 13 to conform with the taper of the housing asillustrated. As more clearly shown in FIG. 2 in the embodimentillustrated, four of the ribs are formed slightly thicker than the otherribs so that bolt means 23 secured thereinto will support a cup-likecover 24 of relatively thin material. Cup 24 is so disposed to telescopea portion of the bearing housing 21 and is spaced from the housing bythe ribs 22 so as to provide a space or clearance 25 which defines anair outlet for air in the cup cavity 26 formed by the inside of the cup,and the outside of the bearing housing. The cup is also formed with acentrally located aperture 27 through which the shaft 14 extends, asillustrated in FIG. 1, to provide a sufficient clearance for an airinlet between the periphery of the shaft 14 for the introduction of airinto the cavity 26.

An air impeller 28 is fixed on the shaft 14 to rotate therewith by anysuitable means such as screw 30 so that air entering the inlet 27 willbe impelled by the impeller out the air outlet 25 between the housingand cover 24.

Thus, it can be seen from the above description that upon rotation ofthe shaft 14 by driver D, air Will be directed over the bearing housing.The ribs 22 not only define the air outlet, but also provide a greatersurface area subjected to cooling by the air flow. This air flowcontinuously cools the bearing housing to maintain the temperature rangemost advantageous for optimum life of bearing lubrication and aspreviously noted in the embodiment disclosed, both bearings, radial orthrust, are cooled without necessitating a plurality of cooling meansfor each bearing as heretofore resuired.

While the various parts herein have been described as upper and lower orin a right or left position, such description refers only to therelative position of the parts as shown in the drawings and is notintended to be a limitation of the invention; it being understood thatthe appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art willpermit.

1 claim:

1. In a centrifugal pump having a pump housing, fluid inlet means andfluid outlet means for said housing, said pump housing providing a shaftopening through a wall thereof, a rotary shaft extending through saidopening and projecting for a substantial distance to one side of saidpump housing, means sealing said shaft in said opening, an impellermounted on said shaft and positioned inside of said pump housing forimpelling fluid from said inlet means to said outlet means, a bearinghousing mounted on the outside of said pump housing and enclosing aportion of said shaft that projects to one side of said pump housing,said bearing housing having an end remote from said pump housing, firstshaft bearing means supported by and in said bearing housing adjacent tosaid opening, and second shaft bearing means supported by and in saidhousing and spaced axially from said first bearing means in a directionaway from said opening, the combination of a plurality of axiallydisposed, radially outwardly extending, ribs disposed circumferentiallyabout the exterior of said bearing housing, each of said ribs extendingsubstantially parallel to said shaft and having one end adjacent to saidfirst bearing means and the other end adjacent to said second bearingmeans, a cuplike cover disposed over the end of said bearing housingremote from said pump housing, said cover being supported by said ribsand providing with said ribs and portions of said bearing housingadjacent to said ribs a plurality of spaces defining air outlets forsaid cover, said cover having a central aperture through which saidshaft extends, air inlet means in said cover adjacent said shaft, an airimpeller mounted on said shaft within said cover and adjacent to saidair inlet means for drawing outside air through said air inlet means andflowing it over the end of said bearing housing beneath said cover, outof said outlets, and over said ribs and the exterior portions of saidhousing adjacent to said ribs for cooling said bearing housing and bothof said bearing means, and means for coupling said shaft to a driver.

2. In a centrifugal pump having a pump housing, fluid inlet means andfluid outlet means for said housing, said pump housing providing a shaftopening through a wall thereof, a rotary shaft extending through saidopening and projecting for a substantial distance to one side of saidpump housing, means sealing said shaft in said opening, an impellermounted on said shaft and positioned inside of said pump housing forimpelling fluid from said inlet means to said outlet means, a bearinghousing mounted on the outside of said pump housing and enclosing aportion of said shaft that projects to one side of said pump housing,said bearing housing having an end remote from said pump housing, radialbearing means for said shaft supported by and in said bearing housingadjacent to said opening, and thrust bearing means for said shaftsupported by and in said housing and spaced axially from said radialbearing means in a direction away from said opening, the combination ofa plurality of axially disposed, radially outwardly extending, ribsdisposed circumferentially about the exterior of said bearing housing,each of said ribs extending substantially parallel to said shaft andhaving one end adjacent to said radial bearing means and the other endadjacent to said thrust bearing means, a cup-like cover disposed overthe end of said bearing housing remote from said pump housing, saidcover terminating at and being supported by the ends of said ribs thatare adjacent to said thrust bearing means and providing with said ribsand portions of said bearing housing adjacent to said ribs a pluralityof spaces defining air outlets for said cover, said cover having acentral aperture through which said shaft extends With clearance so asto provide air inlet means in said cover adjacent said shaft, an airimpeller mounted on said shaft within said cover and adjacent to saidair inlet means for drawing outside air through said air inlet means andflowing it over the end of said bearing housing beneath said cover, outof said outlets, and over said ribs and the exterior portions of saidhousing adjacent to said ribs for cooling said bearing housing and bothof said bearing means, and means for coupling said shaft to a driver.

3. In a centrifugal pump having a pump housing, fluid inlet means andfluid outlet means for said housing, said pump housing providing a shaftopening through a wall thereof, a rotary shaft extending through saidopening and projecting for a substantial distance to one side of saidpump housing, means sealing said shaft in said opening, an impellermounted on said shaft and positioned inside of said pump housing forimpelling fluid from said inlet means to said outlet means, a bearinghousing mounted on the outside of said pump housing and enclosing aportion of said shaft that projects to one side of said pump housing,said bearing housing having an end remote from said pump housing, andshaft bearing means supported by and in said bearing housing, thecombination of a plurality of axially disposed, radially outwardlyextending, ribs disposed circumferentially about the exterior of saidbearing housing, each of said ribs extending substantially parallel tosaid shaft and having a portion adjacent to said bearing means, acuplike cover disposed over the end of said bearing housing remote fromsaid ump housing, said cover being supported by said ribs and providingwith said ribs and portions of said bearing housing adjacent to saidribs a plurality of spaces defining air outlets for said cover, saidcover having a central aperture through which said shaft extends, airinlet means in said cover adjacent said shaft, an air impeller mountedon said shaft within said cover and adjacent to said air inlet means fordrawing outside air through said air inlet means and flowing it over theend of said bearing housing beneath said cover, out of said outlets, andover said ribs and the exterior portions of said housing adjacent tosaid ribs for cooling said bearing housing and said bearing means, andmeans for coupling said shaft to a driver.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,735,027 2/1956Formhals 308-77 2,777,395 1/1957 Disbrow. 2,922,098 1/1958 Hutson 310-52ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

FRANK SUSKO, Examiner,

1. IN A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP HAVING A PUMP HOUSING, FLUID INLET MEANS ANDFLUID OUTLET MEANS FOR SAID HOUSING, SAID PUMP HOUSING PROVIDING A SHAFTOPENING THROUGH A WALL THEREOF, A ROTARY SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH SAIDOPENING AND PROJECTING FOR A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE TO ONE SIDE OF SAIDPUMP HOUSING, MEANS SEALING SAID SHAFT IN SAID OPENING, AN IMPELLERMOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT AND POSITIONED INSIDE OF SAID PUMP HOUSING FORIMPELLING FLUID FROM SAID INLET MEANS TO SAID OUTLET MEANS, A BEARINGHOUSING MOUNTED ON THE OUTSIDE OF SAID PUMP HOUSING AND ENCLOSING APORTION OF SAID SHAFT THAT PROJECTS TO ONE SIDE OF SAID PUMP HOUSING,SAID BEARING HOUSING HAVING AN END REMOTE FROM SAID PUMP HOUSING, FIRSTSHAFT BEARING MEANS SUPPORTED BY AND IN SAID BEARING HOUSING ADJACENT TOSAID OPENING, AND SECOND SHAFT BEARING MEANS SUPPORTED BY AND IN SAIDHOUSING AND SPACED AXIALLY FROM SAID FIRST BEARING MEANS IN A DIRECTIONAWAY FROM SAID OPENING, THE COMBINATION OF A PLURALITY OF AXIALLYDISPOSED, RADIALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING, RIBS DISPOSED CIRCUMFERENTIALLYABOUT THE EXTERIOR OF SAID BEARING HOUSING, EACH OF SAID RIBS EXTENDINGSUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID SHAFT AND HAVING ONE END ADJACENT TO SAIDFIRST BEARING MEANS AND THE OTHER END ADJACENT TO SAID SECOND BEARINGMEANS, A CUPLIKE COVER DISPOSED OVER THE END OF SAID BEARING HOUSINGREMOTE FROM SAID PUMP HOUSING, SAID COVER BEING SUPPORTED BY SAID RIBSAND PROVIDING WITH SAID RIBS AND PORTIONS OF SAID BEARING HOUSINGADJACENT TO SAID RIB A PLURALITY OF SPACED DEFINING AIR OUTLETS FOR SAIDCOVER, SAID COVER HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE THROUGH WHICH SAID SHAFTEXTENDS, AIR INLET MEANS IN SAID COVER ADJACENT SAID SHAFT, AN, AIRIMPELLER MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT WITHIN SAID COVER AND ADJACENT TO SAIDAIR INLET MEANS FOR DRAWING OUTSIDE AIR THROUGH SAID AIR INLET MEANS ANDFLOWING IT OVER THE END OF SAID BEARING HOUSING BENEATH SAID COVER OUTOF SAID OUTLETS, AND OVER SAID RIBS AND THE EXTERIOR PORTIONS OF SAIDHOUSING ADJACENT TO SAID RIBS FOR COOLING SAID BEARING HOUSING AND BOTHOF SAID BEARING MEANS, AND MEANS FOR COUPLING SAID SHAFT TO A DRIVER.